Fire suppression system for heavy mobile machines

ABSTRACT

An automatic and essentially shock proof fire suppression system for a heavy mobile machine such as a log skidder, tractor, street sweeper or the like incorporates a set of spray nozzles piped to a tank of extinguishing fluid. A self contained battery circuit includes a plurality of thermostatic switch heat sensors and in the presence of fire a sensor closes, actuates a solenoid valve and allows CO2 gas from a CO2 capsule to flow and operate a piston device which in turn punctures a CO2 cartridge, gas from the cartridge flows and pressurizes the extinguishing tank thereby causing the extinguishing fluid to be discharged from the nozzles.

United States Patent Lease 14s] Sept. 5, 1972 FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMFOR HEAVY MOBILE MACHINES 3,568,774 3/1971 Meoule ..169/2 A PrimaryExaminer-M. Henson Wood, .lr.

Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. Attorney-B. B. Olive [57]ABSTRACT An automatic and essentially shock proof fire suppressionsystem for a heavy mobile machine such as a log skidder, tractor, streetsweeper or the like incorporates a set of spray nozzles piped to a tankof extinguishing fluid. A self contained battery circuit includes aplurality of thermostatic switch heat sensors and in the presence offire a sensor closes, actuates a solenoid valve and allows CO, gas froma CO, capsule to flow and operate a piston device which in turnpunctures a C0 cartridge, gas from the cartridge flows and pressurizesthe extinguishing tank thereby causing the extinguishing fluid to bedischarged from the nozzles.

9Clairns,7DrawingFigures PATENIEBSEP 5 I912 3.688.846

4 11 11 FIG 2 51 CO2 Gas I 23 5 FIG. 5

go 1 i i INVENTOR. gg a CO 1O 1O 1 William 0. Lease 21 1 2 i BY FireExtinguishing 11 THLNQHlQiT] l Mammal ATTORNEY FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMFOR HEAVY MOBILE MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of theInvention This invention relates to automatic fire suppression andextinguishing systems and particularly to electrically operated systemsdesigned for use on heavy machinery exposed to vibration and shock.

2. Description of the Prior Art For many years automatic firesuppression and extinguishing systems have protected aircraft andrailcars where a fire could result in a dramatic loss of lives andproperty. However, until recently very little was done to protect heavymachinery such as logging and construction equipment, which is plaguedby fires started by trash, leaking fuel and electrical shorts. As aresult, insurance companies have become hesitant to insure some of thisexpensive machinery against fire damage. Manually triggered fireextinguishing systems have been offered as optional equipment on logskidders. The Ansul I01 system made by The Ansul Company, Marinette,Wisconsin 54143 is an example. This system pipes a dry chemical to fourpredetermined critical areas on a skidder when manually actuated by theoperator. However, many fires go unseen until a great deal of damage hasoccurred or ignite during off duty hours when the machine is unattended.In addition, the excessive vibration and shock to which heavy equipmentis subjected can adversely effect the reliability of a system which wasnot designed for such an application. Some attempts have been made toprovide electrical systems operated off the machine battery but thebattery itself is often a source of fire and involves shorts, groundsand the like.

In summary, none of the prior art devices provide an automaticelectrically self-powered fire extinguishing system which can beuniversally adapted to heavy machinery and provide around the clockprotection with substantially complete reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a fire suppression andextinguishing system for heavy mobile machines such as tractors, logskidders, street sweepers and the like and which includes means forsensing and causing a fire extinguishing fluid to be directed to thefire. A plurality of heat sensors in the nature of shock resistant,precision temperature sensitive, thermostatic switches are distributedover the machine at strategic locations. The switches are normally openand when any one is closed by heat the system is immediately triggeredand extinguishing fluid is directed to a plurality of nozzles which arelocated so as to allow the fluid to effectively blanket the machine.Wires from the sensors and piping from the nozzles is brought to a shockmounted component panel which mounts a tank of extinguishing fluid andassociated control equipment. The system has its own battery mounted onthe panel so as not to depend on the machine power supply. On the panelthere is provided a removable threaded cup device which receives a smallC0, capsule. The capsule is placed in the cup device and the cup deviceis then screwed into a holder which mounts a puncturing rod so that thecapsule is punctured and its gas contents released. The gas flows into apipe connected to one side of a sensor controlled solenoid operatedvalve. This valve can be opened either by a sensor closing in thepresence of heat or by a manual control switch which like the sensorcompletes a circuit to the battery. When the valve opens the smallamount of pressurized gas from the CO, capsule passes through the valveand acts on a piston mounted in a housing connected to receive the gasfrom the valve. The piston mounts a puncturing rod which passes througha cap sealing member secured to the top of a CO, cartridge having arelatively larger pressurized gas supply than in the capsule. Thepuncturing rod breaks the sealing member and allows the cartridge gas topass through connected piping to the tank which holds fire extinguishingfluid, e.g., a flowable dry chemical type mixture. The extinguishingfluid now under pressure from the cartridge gas is forced out of thetank and into piping connected to the nozzles which spray the fluid ontothe machine in some predetermined pattern and until the content of thetank is exhausted. Only 5 to 10 seconds is required.

All components and the system itself is designed in such a way as toadapt to the rugged demands of shock, vibration, dust and the likenormally encountered in the use of heavy machinery. Furthermore, so longas a periodic maintenance check is made the system is essentiallypercent reliable and whether or not attended. As shown in the moredetailed description special construction arrangements allow the systemto be quickly and economically restored to normal condition after afire, allow for ease of installation, allow for maximum protectionagainst use vibration and allow for ease of periodic service checks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side view of a log skidderequipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the component panel.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the component panel.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the component panel.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical triggering circuit andextinguishing fluid piping system.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a CO, capsule arrangement employed in theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a partial elevation view of a connector assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the embodiment of theinvention shown in the drawings a fire suppression or extinguishingsystem is shown applied to a log skidder. As previously mentioned, thesystem incorporates a plurality of strategically placed heat sensors 10,represented in FIG. 1 by small circles, and spray nozzles 11, shown inFIG. 1 as small triangles. Critical locations on a log skidder wouldinclude the brake assemblies, the engine compartment and the hydraulicand fuel tanks and the sensors l0 and nozzles 11 are shown accordinglyin FIG. 1. The sensors are of critical importance. They should berugged, precision temperature sensitive and vibration resistant. Anideal sensor has been discovered to be the Klixon M-l precision, singlepole, single throw, thermostatic switch made and sold by the TexasInstru- .ments Corporation, Attleboro, Massachusetts. These switcheshave a 60 G acceleration rating and have previously proven practical foroperating aircraft warning signal lights. Their utility for automaticfire control in heavy mobile equipment has however not been heretoforerecognized. The sensors are available with different calibrations butfor the present invention a rating of 300 F at which the sensor closeshas been found desirable.

While a wide choice of nozzle structure is available a nozzle deemedspecially suited to the invention is the self-closing cap type nozzle asmade and sold by The Ansul Company, Marinette, Wisconsin. This nozzlehas a spring loaded cap which opens under a few ounces of pressure andcan also be obtained in a design adapted to provide a wide spray patternwhich is desirable for blanketing a heavy mobile machine as intended bythe system of the invention.

The sensors are preferably encased with a heavy duty rubber or the likeand the sensor leads are led through protective fire and explosion proofcables generally indicated at 12, to a main component board 15.Component board 15 effectively assemles all parts of the system in onelocation except for the sensors, the nozzles, and the related wiring andpiping between the sensors, nozzles and component board. That is, thesensors can be installed and the sensor wiring brought to the componentboard location. Similarly, the nozzles can be installed and the nozzleheading brought to the com ponent board. All that is then required tocomplete the installation is to install the component board and makeappropriate connections of the sensor wiring and nozzle piping to thecorresponding wiring and piping junctions on the component board. Thecomponent board also serves another very practical purpose in providinga convenient means for manufacturing and shipping since the entirecomponent board assembly can be prefabricated and shipped as a unit fromthe factory along with the required number of sensors, nozzles andwiring and piping which can be cut to length, installed and terminatedat pipe 65 as shown.

The component board 15 supports a dry chemical container 20, e.g., a 30pound dry chemical, a main CO, gas cartridge 2], a cartridgereceiver-pneumatic actuator 22, a pneumatic piston-cylinder device 23, asolenoid valve 24, a pressure gage 25 and CO, capsule holder-puncturingunit 26. There is also mounted on the component board 15 a housing 30inside of which is mounted a terminal board 31, a manual control switch32, and a battery 33. Container 20 sits on a shelf support 35 and isheld by a releasable strap member 36 to the main backing plate 40 whichis provided with vibration mounts 41.

The capsule holder-puncturing unit 26 includes a threaded cup 50 adaptedto receive a small CO, capsule 51 and to be threaded into a cap 53having a fixed puncturing rod 54 designed to puncture capsule 51 andrelease its gas contents into pipe 55 so as to provide a gas underpressure indicated by gauge 25. This gas appears on one side of solenoidvalve 24. As indicated in FIG. the operation of any sensor or the manualcontrol switch 32, which may be located on the component board as inFIG. 2 or a switch on the dashboard as at 60 in FIG. 1 will act toenergize solenoid 24. The capsule gas then enters pipe 61 and moves thepiston 62 (FIG. 5) in actuator 22 so as to puncture and release the gasfrom cartridge 21 and allow this gas to enter pipe 64 and expel thecontents of container 20 through the pipe 65 and associated nozzles l 1.Simultaneously a bell is energized so that if the machine is unattendeda suitable audible warning is given. While not shown in the drawings itmay be mentioned that an easily pres sure punctured seal is normallyprovided in the line leading from the container 30 to the nozzle 11 andthis seal is broken during an operation of the system. Pipe 65 normallyincludes this seal.

Because log skidders and the like are subjected to extremely heavyshocks and the like the invention system makes special provision for arelatively loose and flexible connection between the piston-cylinderdevice 23 and the actuator 22. This is shown in FIG. 7 where the pistonrod of device 23 is shown loosely mounted in a loose pipe 82 and makingcontact with puncturing rod 81 of actuator 22. In use this allowscontainer 20, and actuator 22 to vibrate and slightly move withoutdisturbing device 23.

In regard to actuator 22, it should be understood that systems presentlysold by The Ansul-Company incorporate actuators such as actuator 22 andcartridges such as cartridge 21 but which are conventionally used with amanual firing device. That is, the combination of actuator 22, cartridge21 and container 20 is, per se, old however the conventional practice isto operate actuator 22 manually by pressing down on the actuatorpuncturing rod 8]. So far as is known the system of the invention isparticularly novel in providing a means for automatically andnon-manually puncturing cartridge 21 utilizing the piston device, valveand capsule arrangement just described.

While not shown in detail, it should be noted that vibration, fire andexplosion proof pipes, pipe fittings, pipe connections and wiringharness should be employed throughout the system. It may also be notedthat two or more independent systems may be used and set for differentsensing temperatures. With a system built according to the presentinvention and using four nozzles a 30 pound tank of dry chemical can beemptied in approximately 6 seconds time.

In summary, it can be seen that the invention makes available tolumbering companies, construction companies, municipalities and the likea completely reliable system for automatically releasing a fireextinguishing fluid in the event of a fire on heavy mobile equipment.While circumstances will determine whether the system is capable ofcompletely extinguishing a particular kind of fire at the very least thetire will be suppressed, and a warning given. The presence of anindependent battery insures independence from the equipment power supplywhich itself is often the cause of fires and cannot be depended upon forcontrol or operating power in the event of fire. With relatively simpleinstructions concerning locating the sensors and nozzles and arrangingthe piping and wiring the system lends itself to quick and economicalinstallation and maintenance. A quick test involves removing the coverfrom cartridge 21, removing cartridge 21 and then actuating the systemby closing manual switch 32 which should cause actuator 22 to function.This tests electrical and mechanical operability and involves only thecost of an inexpensive and easily replaced capsule 51. Cartridge 2],battery 33 and container 20 should of course be serviced and replaced asrequired and in accord with well known practices. The sensors aregenerally regarded as good for the life of the equipment.

The loose connection previously described in reference to FIG. 7 allowscontainer 20, cartridge 21 and actuator 22 to vibrate as a unit. Thisarrangement also allows this unit to be removed and replaced simply byreleasing strap member 36 and lifting container off shelf support 35since pipe 82 (FIG. 7) is loose, the connection between piston rod 80and puncturing rod 81 is easily separated. Container and cartridge 21can, of course, be replaced in a reverse order of steps. The othercomponents, that is cylinder-piston operator 23, valve 24, battery 33and auxiliary gas source 36 are separately and preferably rigidlymounted to panel board 40. Thus, the panel board and these lattermentioned components can vibrate independent of the vibration ofcontainer 20 and cartridge 21.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic fire suppression system for heavy mobile equipment andthe like comprising, in combination:

a. a plurality of precision, vibration and shock resistant thermostatictype heat sensors each providing a pair of normally open electricalcontacts and being fixed at fire susceptible locations on an equipmentto be protected;

. a plurality of fire fluid dispensing nozzles fixed on said equipmentproximate said locations;

c. an unpressurized container of fire extinguishing fluid materialhaving piping connected to said nozzles and adapted when pressurized toexhaust said fluid material through said nozzles;

. a main gas cartridge having a puncturable sealed opening and oppositesaid opening an actuator device having a puncturing rod adapted toengage and puncture said opening and having piping connecting saidopening to said container to allow gas escaping from said cartridge topressurize said container and exhaust said fluid material;

e. a cylinder-piston operator having a movable piston mounted in acylinder housing connected to receive pressurized gas and adapted underthe influence of such gas to engage and operate said puncturing rod;

f. an auxiliary source of pressurized gas having a pipe connected tosaid cylinder;

a normally closed electrically operated solenoid valve mounted in saidpipe and adapted when closed to block said auxiliary source gas fromsaid cylinder and when open to pass said auxiliary source gas to saidcylinder to operate said piston, said auxiliary source gas beingconnected to pressurize said pipe on one side of said valve and while ina closed position;

. an electrical power source; and

. wiring means connecting each said sensor to said electrical source andbeing arranged whereby upon closing of the contacts in any of saidsensors, said electrical source is connected to electrically energizeand open said valve, said auxiliary gas source is allowed to flow andoperate said piston to actuate said puncturing rod, said cartridge gasis released to said container and said fluid material is exhaustedthrough said nozzles.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrical sourcecomprises a battery independent of the electrical system of saidequipment.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary gas sourcecomprises a punctured pressurized gas capsule.

4. A system as claimed in claim 2 including a panel board mounted onsaid equipment and mounting said container, main gas cartridge,cylinder-piston operator, solenoid valve, battery and auxiliary gassource.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1 having at least one normally openmanual electrical switch connected to said electrical source and valveand adapted to energize and open said valve when said switch is closed.

6. A system as claimed in claim 4 including an electrical terminal boardand pipe connector means on said panel board enabling both said sensorwiring and container-nozzle piping to be connected and disconnected atsaid panel board.

7. A system as claimed in claim 3 including a removable holder for saidcapsule and means adapted to puncture said capsule and release the gastherefrom into said pipe and being operable by installing said holder.

8. An automatic fire suppression system for heavy mobile equipment andthe like comprising, in combination:

a. a plurality of precision, vibration and shock resistant thermostatictype heat sensors each providing a pair of normally open electricalcontacts and being fixed at fire susceptible locations on an equipmentto be protected;

. a plurality of fire fluid dispensing nozzles fixed on said equipmentproximate said locations;

. an unpressurized container of fire extinguishing fluid material havingpiping connected to said nozzles and adapted when pressurized to exhaustsaid fluid material through said nozzles;

. a main gas cartridge having a puncturable sealed opening and oppositesaid opening an actuator device having a puncturing rod adapted toengage and puncture said opening and having piping connecting saidopening to said container to allow gas escaping from said cartridge topressurize said container and exhaust said fluid material;

. a cylinder-piston operator having a movable piston and rod mounted ina cylinder housing connected to receive pressurized gas and adaptedunder the influence of such gas to engage and operate said puncturingrod;

f. an auxiliary source of pressurized gas including a pressurized gascapsule, a removable threaded cup holder for said capsule, a threadedmating cap member having a pipe connected to said cylinder and includingmeans adapted to puncture said capsule upon said holder being threadedinto said cap member and thereby release gas into said pipe;

. a normally closed electrically operated solenoid valve mounted in saidpipe and adapted when closed to block said auxiliary source gas fromsaid cylinder and when open to pass said auxiliary source gas to saidcylinder to operate said piston, said auxiliary source gas beingconnected to pressurize said pipe on one side of said valve and while ina closed position;

h. an electrical power source comprising a battery independent of theelectrical system of said equipment;

'. a panel board mounted on said equipment and at least one normallyopen manual electric switch connected to said battery source and valveand adapted to energize and open said valve when said switch is closed;and

. wiring means connecting each said sensor to said battery source andbeing arranged whereby upon closing of the contacts in any of saidsensors, said battery source is connected to electrically energize andopen said valve, said auxiliary gas source gas is allowed to flow andoperate said piston to actuate said puncturing rod, said cartridge gasis released to said container and said fluid material is exhaustedthrough said nozzles.

9. An automatic fire suppression system as claimed in claim 8 andincluding connector means providing a relatively loose and removableconnection between said piston rod and puncturing rod, strap meansreleasably securing said container and main gas cartridge as a unit tosaid panel board and separate securing means mounting and securing saidcylinder-piston operator, valve, battery and auxiliary gas source tosaid panel board thereby enabling said container-cartridge unit tovibrate and be readily removed as a unit separate from other componentson said panel board.

* l I i t

1. An automatic fire suppression system for heavy mobile equipment andthe like comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of precision,vibration and shock resistant thermostatic type heat sensors eachproviding a pair of normally open electrical contacts and being fixed atfire susceptible locations on an equipment to be protected; b. aplurality of fire fluId dispensing nozzles fixed on said equipmentproximate said locations; c. an unpressurized container of fireextinguishing fluid material having piping connected to said nozzles andadapted when pressurized to exhaust said fluid material through saidnozzles; d. a main gas cartridge having a puncturable sealed opening andopposite said opening an actuator device having a puncturing rod adaptedto engage and puncture said opening and having piping connecting saidopening to said container to allow gas escaping from said cartridge topressurize said container and exhaust said fluid material; e. acylinder-piston operator having a movable piston mounted in a cylinderhousing connected to receive pressurized gas and adapted under theinfluence of such gas to engage and operate said puncturing rod; f. anauxiliary source of pressurized gas having a pipe connected to saidcylinder; g. a normally closed electrically operated solenoid valvemounted in said pipe and adapted when closed to block said auxiliarysource gas from said cylinder and when open to pass said auxiliarysource gas to said cylinder to operate said piston, said auxiliarysource gas being connected to pressurize said pipe on one side of saidvalve and while in a closed position; h. an electrical power source; andi. wiring means connecting each said sensor to said electrical sourceand being arranged whereby upon closing of the contacts in any of saidsensors, said electrical source is connected to electrically energizeand open said valve, said auxiliary gas source is allowed to flow andoperate said piston to actuate said puncturing rod, said cartridge gasis released to said container and said fluid material is exhaustedthrough said nozzles.
 2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidelectrical source comprises a battery independent of the electricalsystem of said equipment.
 3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidauxiliary gas source comprises a punctured pressurized gas capsule.
 4. Asystem as claimed in claim 2 including a panel board mounted on saidequipment and mounting said container, main gas cartridge,cylinder-piston operator, solenoid valve, battery and auxiliary gassource.
 5. A system as claimed in claim 1 having at least one normallyopen manual electrical switch connected to said electrical source andvalve and adapted to energize and open said valve when said switch isclosed.
 6. A system as claimed in claim 4 including an electricalterminal board and pipe connector means on said panel board enablingboth said sensor wiring and container-nozzle piping to be connected anddisconnected at said panel board.
 7. A system as claimed in claim 3including a removable holder for said capsule and means adapted topuncture said capsule and release the gas therefrom into said pipe andbeing operable by installing said holder.
 8. An automatic firesuppression system for heavy mobile equipment and the like comprising,in combination: a. a plurality of precision, vibration and shockresistant thermostatic type heat sensors each providing a pair ofnormally open electrical contacts and being fixed at fire susceptiblelocations on an equipment to be protected; b. a plurality of fire fluiddispensing nozzles fixed on said equipment proximate said locations; c.an unpressurized container of fire extinguishing fluid material havingpiping connected to said nozzles and adapted when pressurized to exhaustsaid fluid material through said nozzles; d. a main gas cartridge havinga puncturable sealed opening and opposite said opening an actuatordevice having a puncturing rod adapted to engage and puncture saidopening and having piping connecting said opening to said container toallow gas escaping from said cartridge to pressurize said container andexhaust said fluid material; e. a cylinder-piston operator having amovable piston and rod mounted in a cylinder housing connected toreceive pressurized gas and adapted under thE influence of such gas toengage and operate said puncturing rod; f. an auxiliary source ofpressurized gas including a pressurized gas capsule, a removablethreaded cup holder for said capsule, a threaded mating cap memberhaving a pipe connected to said cylinder and including means adapted topuncture said capsule upon said holder being threaded into said capmember and thereby release gas into said pipe; g. a normally closedelectrically operated solenoid valve mounted in said pipe and adaptedwhen closed to block said auxiliary source gas from said cylinder andwhen open to pass said auxiliary source gas to said cylinder to operatesaid piston, said auxiliary source gas being connected to pressurizesaid pipe on one side of said valve and while in a closed position; h.an electrical power source comprising a battery independent of theelectrical system of said equipment; i. a panel board mounted on saidequipment and mounting said container, main gas cartridge,cylinder-piston operator, solenoid valve, battery and auxiliary gassource and including an electrical terminal board and pipe connectormeans enabling both said sensor wiring and container nozzle piping to beconnected and disconnected at said panel board; j. at least one normallyopen manual electric switch connected to said battery source and valveand adapted to energize and open said valve when said switch is closed;and k. wiring means connecting each said sensor to said battery sourceand being arranged whereby upon closing of the contacts in any of saidsensors, said battery source is connected to electrically energize andopen said valve, said auxiliary gas source gas is allowed to flow andoperate said piston to actuate said puncturing rod, said cartridge gasis released to said container and said fluid material is exhaustedthrough said nozzles.
 9. An automatic fire suppression system as claimedin claim 8 and including connector means providing a relatively looseand removable connection between said piston rod and puncturing rod,strap means releasably securing said container and main gas cartridge asa unit to said panel board and separate securing means mounting andsecuring said cylinder-piston operator, valve, battery and auxiliary gassource to said panel board thereby enabling said container-cartridgeunit to vibrate and be readily removed as a unit separate from othercomponents on said panel board.